Swivel connector system for a mobile device

ABSTRACT

A system for carrying a mobile device such as a camera includes: a cap with a shank; a module rotatably mounted on the shank; and a strap connection fixture on the rotatable module. A single-point swivel connection can thus be provided that provides a secure mounting and convenient use of the device without tangling the carrying straps for the device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent document claims benefit of the earlier filing date of U.S.provisional Pat. App. No. 61/402,476, filed Aug. 31, 2010, which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Mobile devices such as cameras, video capture systems, media players,and portable computers can be expensive and delicate. Accordingly, acommon question for mobile devices is how to safely, flexibly, quickly,securely, and reliably carry and use such devices. For example, atraditional Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera may include loops or hoistrings at the top left and right portions of the camera, so that a strapcan be attached to the camera. By using these hoist rings and a strap, auser is able to safely carry and use a camera. Integrating traditionalhoist rings into a mobile device generally adds to the cost, weight, andoverall size of the device and may impede user access to the device. Inparticular, the locations of these standard mounting points and hoistrings are far from optimal. Often, because of the high strap mounts andthe position of the strap, access to the device is cumbersome, which mayresult in user frustration. Accordingly, the user may avoid using acamera strap because the strap tangles or interferes with use of thecamera or because attachment of the strap provides poor weightdistribution, making the camera uncomfortable to carry. Current mobilityand mounting solutions have also failed to produce an ideal solutionthat addresses dynamic load issues and the risk of an expensive objectworking freely of its mount and potentially being damaged. U.S. Pat. No.4,058,242 to Brewer describes one solution for a connector mount forcamera straps that uses an additional strap connection to a tripod nutat the bottom of a camera, but the overall mounting system of Brewer maybe even more cumbersome than simply attaching the straps to thetraditional mounting points near the top corners of the camera.Improvements in the mounting and carrying systems for mobile devices arestill being sought.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a mounting system capableof hoisting and carrying loads and increasing the usability, life,value, and user experience of a portable device can be provided using asingle-point, swivel connector with a rotatable strap connectionfixture.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, an access point ata tripod socket of a camera can be provided for straps, harnesses, andother attachments. The access point may include a module that floats androtates independently from the other parts of the system. A load of thecamera can be distributed along the bulk, through a mounting point, to astrap, harness, or other carrying system. Straps and harnesses can beworn and handled in many different positions that may be selected oradjusted for the comfort of the user.

Particular embodiments of the invention can provide a simple unobtrusivemounting solution for attaching carrying apparatuses such as straps andharnesses in a manner that does not impede access, usage, orwear-ability of a portable device. For a camera, a mounting system on atripod socket is most often located at the base of the camera, whichlowers the center of gravity and moment of inertia. This can reducestrain on the upper portions of the body by centering the weight lower,and can improve handling by centralizing the carrying apparatuses to asingle central location thus improving hand positioning, accessibility,and stability. The ability of the strap connector to swivel or rotatefurther provides another axis of rotation for easy positioning of thecamera.

One specific embodiment of the invention is a system that includes: acap with a shank; a module rotatably mounted on the shank; and a strapconnection fixture on the rotatable module.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows an exploded view of a swivel connector in accordance withembodiments of the invention employing a one-piece cap and modularbearing.

FIG. 1B shows an exploded view of a swivel connector in accordance withembodiments of the invention employing a one-piece cap and a module bodywith a built-in bearing.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a swivel connector in accordance withan embodiment of the invention employing a two-piece cap.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a swivel connector in accordance withan embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of a module body for a swivel connector inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention employing a U-loop strapconnector.

FIG. 5 shows a cap bolt for a swivel connector in accordance with anembodiment of the invention providing a handle integrated into the capbolt.

FIG. 6 shows a camera and strap system in accordance with embodiments ofthe invention employing a swivel connector installed in a tripod socketof the camera.

Use of the same reference symbols in different figures indicates similaror identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A shows an exploded view of a swivel connector in accordance withan embodiment of the invention. The swivel connector includes a flushtop cap 1 and a rotatable module body 2. Cap 1 has a top 5 of varyingthickness but generally provides flush or low profile shape for acompact configuration. The outside perimeter or circumference of top 5can be roughened, textured, knurled, knobbed, or slotted to provide afirm grip for hand-tightening when assembling the swivel connector oraffixing the swivel connector to a portable device. An elongated shank10 runs perpendicular to top 5 having a smooth surface 20 near top 5 anda threaded portion 15. Cap 1 further includes a flange 25 that protrudesbelow top 5 and is shaped to butt against a bearing 4 embedded into amodule body 2. Bearing 4 may be a ball bearing or similar structurehaving a central portion that remains fixed relative to cap 1 and anouter portion that remains fixed relative to rotatable module body 2.Bearing 4 can be selected to provide different resistance levels torotation of the outer portion relative to the inner portion with theresistance being selected according to the application of the swivelconnector. Different resistances can be achieved, for example, throughsizing, use of different material, or use of different lubrications inbearing 4. Module body 2 contains an inset shoulder 60 to accommodatebearing 4 and dissipate force from the low friction surface. A similarinset shoulder 60 is located at the bottom of module body 2 toaccommodate a protruding flange 26 of a load plate 3, which may restagainst the inner portion of bearing 4 when the swivel connector isfully assembled. Module body 2 has an inner diameter 55, whichaccommodates bearing 4, and an outer diameter 50 to which differenttypes of strap connection features can be attached as described furtherbelow.

Load plate 3 with protruding flange 26 has perpendicularly opposingthreads 27 running centrally. When the device is assembled, load plate 3is secured to shank 10 and compresses against the bottom of the bearing4 thereby creating an independently suspended and rotatable module body2 that is able to rotate freely without contacting either flush top cap1 or load plate 3. The length of the shank 10 is greater than thecombined length of module body 2 and load plate 3, which allows forthreads for cap 1 to protrude past the bottom of load plate 3 in theassembled swivel connector. The protruding threads can be used to mountthe swivel connector on various access points and mounting holes orsockets of different devices and objects. A material softer than thematerial load plate 3, such as a textured rubber washer (not shown), canbe used between the bottom of load plate 3 and the fastened object todampen dynamic energy and prevent vibrations, which might otherwiseloosen the threaded connection with the fastened object. Module body 2embedded with bearing 4 stays secure and avoids loosening because of therotational freedom of module body 2 relative to the fastened object, thetop cap 1, and load plate 3, which are all attached together. As aresult, the fastened object can rotate securely around module body 2.

FIG. 1B shows an exploded view of a swivel connector in accordance withan alternative embodiment of the invention having componentssubstantially as described above with reference to FIG. 1A. Theembodiment of FIG. 1B differs from the embodiment of FIG. 1A in thatmodule body 2 in FIG. 1B has an integrated or built-in bearing 4. Forexample, module body 2 can form that outer portion of the bearing thusreducing the number of loose components.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded partial cutout view of an alternate embodimentof the unassembled device. When compared to the embodiment of FIG. 1,the embodiment of FIG. 2 replaces top cap 1 with a threaded bolt 6having a socket cap 30 that is flush fit to a slotted top cap 7. Asshown in the cutout of FIG. 2, slotted cap 7 has a shallow shouldersurface 45 at the bottom of a slot having a diameter 40 greater than thediameter of the head of the threaded bolt 6. The embodiment of FIG. 2also replaces low-friction bearing 4 of FIG. 1A with a bearing having aprotruding inner flange 28 on the top side of module body 2 andcontacting slotted cap 7 when the swivel connector is fully assembled. Asimilar protrusion from inner flange 28 can be added to the bottom ofthe bearing in module body 2, which then can replace the protrudingflange 26 of load plate 3.

Module body 2 in the embodiment of FIG. 2 has a strap connection fixturein the form of a pair of arms that are integrated into module body 2 andextend from opposite sides of module body 2. Each arm has a slot 65through which a strap can be threaded in order to connect a strap torotatable module body 2. Module body 2 can be adapted to provide otherconfigurations for a strap connection fixture.

FIG. 2 also illustrates a feature in which load plate 3 contains toolports 70 into which a tool such as a pin spanner wrench can be fit whentightening load plate 3 onto the shank of bolt 6.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of another alternate embodiment of aswivel connector. The embodiment of FIG. 3 is the same as that shown inFIG. 2 except the socket cap threaded bolt 6 and the slotted top cap 7are replaced by a one-piece top cap 1. Unlike the top cap 1 of FIG. 1A,top cap 1 of FIG. 3 does not have a protruding flange 25. Top cap 1 inFIG. 3 does not need a protruding flange because module body 2 has abuilt-in flange 28 that rests against top cap 1 and provides separationbetween top cap 1 and the rotating portion of module body 2. As in FIG.2, module body 2 of FIG. 3 includes a strap connection fixture in theform of two arms with mounting points 65 that can be used to attachstraps or other hardware.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of another embodiment of a strapconnection fixture for rotatable module body 2. In FIG. 4, the strapconnection fixture includes a loop 11, e.g., a U-loop, that is securedto module body 2 by the means of pins 61, which allow loop 11 to pivotor swivel freely from module body 2. Loop 11 can be a mounting point forvarious attachments such as carabiners, clips, and hooks. Moreover, loop11 can have additional mounting points 65 b that can be used to attachstraps or other hardware. The space inside loop 11 can be usedeffectively as a guide for slings or glide straps where a webbingmaterial passes through.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of top cap 1 as shown in FIG. 3. The top cap1 in FIG. 5 has handle 80 that is secured to the top of top cap 1 by themeans of two pins 81 located on opposite sides of top cap 1. Handle 5can thus swivel up to be used as a handle to rotate the assembled swivelconnector into an object mounting hole to secure the swivel connector toan object such as a camera.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of an assembled swivel connector attachedto a standard tripod socket of a camera 90. Ends of a camera strap areattached to mounting points 65 of module body 2. Top cap 1 and loadplate 3 are fastened to camera 90, while module body 2 rotates freelyand independently from camera 90. As a result, the camera strap is lesslikely to get tangled during use or transportation of camera 90. Inaddition, since the camera straps are now connected to the bottom of thecamera, the user can access all of the camera features, displays, andcontrols on top of the camera without interference from the camera strapwhile using the camera to shoot pictures. Camera as shown can be carriedin an upside-down manner, which may provide quicker camera access,better portability, and enhanced protection of the lens and controls ofthe camera from the elements.

Although the invention has been described with reference to particularembodiments, the description is only an example of the invention'sapplication and should not be taken as a limitation. In particular,although specific embodiments of the invention are primarily describedfor use with a camera, other embodiments can be similarly used withother portable devices. Various other adaptations and combinations offeatures of the embodiments disclosed are within the scope of theinvention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a cap with a shank; arotatable module rotatably mounted on the shank; and a strap connectionfixture on the rotatable module.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein thestrap connection fixture comprises: a first slotted arm extending from afirst side of the module body; and a second slotted arm extending from asecond side of the module body, the second side being opposite from thefirst side.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the strap connectionfixture comprises a loop pivotally mounted on the rotatable module. 4.The system of claim 3, wherein the loop comprises first and second strapslots.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the shank extends through therotatable module and has an end portion extending past the rotatablemodule.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the end portion of the shankis sized and threaded to engage a tripod socket of a camera.
 7. Thesystem of claim 5, further comprising: a portable device to which theend portion of the shank is affixed; and a carrying strap for theportable device, the carrying strap being engaged with the strapconnection fixture.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the portabledevice comprises a camera and the end portion of the shank is affixed ina tripod socket of the camera.
 9. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising a load plate affixed to the shank.
 10. The system of claim 1,wherein a cap includes a grip system for turning the cap to engage aportable device.
 11. The system of claim 10, where in the grip systemcomprises a contouring of the cap.
 12. The system of claim 10, where inthe grip system comprises a handle that is hinged to pivot relative tothe cap.